I confess to my astonishment at the frequency with which Solomon raises the topic of adultery with his son throughout the Book of Proverbs. Sadly, the great king was like too many dads in our day who model a, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say”, style of parenting. Solomon had seen firsthand the sorrow and heartache his father’s infidelity had introduced in the palace; unfortunately, he was no better than his father! We read of Solomon in his old age: “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4).
For the sake of brevity, I limit my focus to the opening verses of Proverbs 7 where Solomon conveys his longing that his son will hear, heed and remember his father’s counsel:
Proverbs 7:1-4 – “My son, keep my words [sayings; speeches], and lay up my commandments [do’s and don’ts] with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law [instructions; teaching] as the apple [pupil] of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers [Deuteronomy 6], write [record; engrave] them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman [friend]:”
Adultery is a cancer to marriage, home, church and nation! Someone reading this devotional might applaud himself for having never been unfaithful to his spouse; however, I remind you that Christ’s definition of adultery strikes a blow against pornography and any other medium that inflames extra-marital passion.
Matthew 5:27-28 – “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery [Exodus 20:14]: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Parents must address the moral character of their children and, by word and example, call their sons and daughters to moral purity. Children are under obligation to hear and heed their parent’s instructions and call them to heart when temptations arise.
Proverbs 7:5 – “That they [parental exhortations] may keep [preserve; be a hedge] thee from the strange [immoral] woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.”
Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith
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